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Permalink Reply by Wolfy Lang on April 4, 2008 at 3:22pm

He's voted into position by SOMEONE ... and they can vote him OUT just as fast. If your bylaws do not state that being under the influence is against dept policy, then they need to be ammended.

Not knowing how your organization is set up, I would present it to the President of the Board of Directors asking for his removal, but here again, you got to watch out for the "good ol' boy" syndrome.

With any type of department, there are procedures for removing someone, Some its a vote of the membership, some its the BOD, some have to go through county commisioners.

If yall cant get together to remove him, a simple anonymous call to the news and perhaps the State Atty Generals office might do the trick.

Wolfy

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Permalink Reply by IDoItAll on April 4, 2008 at 8:27pm

We had a problem with a firefighter coming to calls with alcohol on his breath, not an officer but a firefighter. He was told the first time to leave or be removed. He left. The second time he was taken aside and driven home by another firefighter. The third time he was removed and taken in front of the Board and suspended. He was told the second time that if he came to a scene like that again he would be turned over to the police for driving to the scene intoxicated. Now, I have worked for years as a substance abuse counselor and I know that the problem is real and hard to stop. Maybe he needs a private talk with the officers and offered counseling and needs a list of where the local meetings are. Maybe he doesn't think it is showing but that is a dangerous situation and what if he is driving a fire truck and wrecks, my Gosh the way people love to sue these days, you are set up for a major law suit. Or if he makes a bad call on a scene and something happens, again, a major law suit could happen. Can't worry about his feelings as much as you have to protect your company and all the firefighters involved. STAY STRONG about it!

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Permalink Reply by joe on April 4, 2008 at 11:10pm

you need to check on the state laws on how to remove the man from the postion of chief. in connecticut there is a set forth law that you follow and must give due process to this it takes a long time but it can be done. the mayor or town council should be able to help , by have a zero tolanrance policy for alchol or drugs. and talk to the town lawyer to see where the company stands becouse he is only the cheif when a fire sence in conn. good luck

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Permalink Reply by Irishtruckie12 on April 5, 2008 at 3:47am

Well as my Dept has had MANY problems with this in the past I can help you out

My Dep Chief Showed up to a Mutual Aid call that was about 45 minutes out of our town in his personal vehicle (nothing new usually does this) but me my Lt. and 3 other Firefighters noticed he was a lil (well just say OFF) so we just told him u know we got our orders and just stand where were at and bla bla now on our way over to the fire ground I will tell you he ended up walking right into a monitor stream knocking his helmet off. We finished out duty and were cleared (7 hours later) He was much sober and drove home we went to our CHIEF and discussed this issue (he then had a Closed Door Official Meeting with him) and then the Dept had a Meeting on the issue not about him but in general and we made a few changes to our SOG's now that Any Member evening smelling or acting as if they are under the influence of any type of mind impairment will be Immediately terminated. Things at our dept have been fine ever since.

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Permalink Reply by me on April 5, 2008 at 9:36am

Thanks for all the replies and help.I have gone to our association president and he is moving very quickly to put an end to this.I was worried about the "good old boy" syndrome but by the associations actions I no longer have that worry.

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Permalink Reply by dmedic on April 9, 2008 at 9:21pm

Iris isnt this a little harsh, what if a member becomes a diabetic and his B/S is low? He will act funnie and may even have an odor to them. So now you have terminated a FF that has a medical problem? ETOH I can understand, but no investigation at all? WOW...

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Permalink Reply by Sean Crotty on April 9, 2008 at 6:16pm

It is a difficult situation. Don't think it is all on you. It is great that people have comfort in knowing you are the action jackson of the department, but at the same time, they are putting you in a tough spot. Now will this Chief hold you responsible for the discilpline surrounding his poor decisions. That again, would be another poor decision.
Don't think you are the glue that needs to hold your small organization together. It is important to have pride in your agency. Knowing the ill effects his arrival in an intoxicated state provides, it should be a no brainer. But we are not always dealing with the same mentality as others might have.
To me, it starts with respect, or lack there of. He does not respect the very community he serves. All the people he interacts with, and makes decisions for, he does not exhibit respect for. Lack of judgement is the first thing to go when intoxicated. Poor decisions made by an intoxicated Chief could lead to someones death. I am sure given the opportunity the day after to re-think the decision in a sober light- they would have made some clearer decisions.
Nobody gets a second chance.....make your first the one that really counts.
Respect others as you would expect to be treated.

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Permalink Reply by ERIN TARVER on April 9, 2008 at 7:34pm

Take the issue to Personnel and possibly to the Mayor of the city. I would remain anonymous.

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